Tire.



T. J. THATGHER.

TIRE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED JULY 12, 1911.

Patente Oct. 24, 1911.

THOMAS J. THATCER, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO FRANK BI THATCHER AND 4ONE-CLHLRID T0 JAMES GRAY, BOTH OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

TIRE.

Specification of Letters Petent.`

Patented Got. 24, 1913i.

Application filed July 12, 1911. Serial No. 638,069.

To all lwiz/om, it may concern:

Be it known that l, T noires J. THA'roHER, a citizen oi' the United States. of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and Qtate ot' Michigan, have invented Vcert n ew and uset'ul Improvements in Tires, ot 'sviich the following is a specification, reifer nce being had therein to the accompanying drawings,

This invention relates to improvements in resilient tires for vehicles of that class in which the tubular structure is formed of a `eries of spring members and its object is to provide certain new and useful features in the construction and arrangement of parts, the invention consisting in the matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in

lll

to WZ which Figure l is a side elevation ot a portion of a wheel showing a tire thereon embodying the invention and partially in section to show the construction; Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sect-ion of the same; and t) is a sectional detail illustrating the arrangement of the spring members.

As shown in the drawing 1 represents a wheel of the ordinary construction having a telly 2 upon the periphery ot' which is secured in any suitable manner a metal rim The outer side of this rim forms a concave seats for a series of Hat steel spring members bent into circular form and together forming a continuous tubular structure. This tubular structure or tire is formed of three layers or series ot' these lint steel spring members The members of the outer series are arranged side by side with spaces between their adjacent edges and the inner series 7 is similarly arranged' and spaced from the outer serios the thickness of the intei-mediate series 8 which is arranged between the inner and outer series to break joints therewith. The inner and outer series of membersare thus arranged in pairs and the members of each pair are secured together with one ot' the members ot the intermediate series secured between thcm,by means of a rivet 9 passing through the members of each pair and through the member of the intermediate series. The members of the intermediate series are each secured along one edge between the pairs of members of the inner and outer series and project between the adjacent pair of members to slide freely so that when the tire is compressed aiid the springs yield inwardly, each pair of members with the intermediate member secured between them may be free to Inc-ve relatively to the adjacent pairs of members. The spring members are preferably secured together by the rivets 9 along the treadof the tire and the spr-ing members are held to the wheel rim 3 with their ends abutting, by pairs of ring segments 10 titting the curvature of the inner face of the tire adjacent yto the rim and provided with studs 11 to engage holes inthe ends of 'the springs and project therethrough into engagement with holes l2 provided therefor in the rim 3. The pairs of segments are provided with outwardly projecting strengthening ribs i3 alongtheir adjacent sides and each segment is secured in place by means of one or more bolts let passing through openings provided therefor in the segments, through'similar openings in the ends of the springs beneath and throi'lg'h holes in. the rim 3 where they are provided with nuts -15 on their inner ends within a recess 16 formed in the telly Q. The ends of the springs are thus firmly clamped to their seat upon the rim by the ring segments and are securely held by the studs ll. The ring segments are made in pairs with studs upon one member of each pair to engageithe openings in the ends of the springs at one side and' the other member of the pair is provided withstuds to engage the openings in the abutting ends of the springs at the other side of the tire. The assembling of the. tire is thus greatly facilitated. This arrangement of the springs gives a smooth, even outer surface to support an 'outer casing 17 ot rubber or other suitable material which vis provided with ribs 18 along' its edges to engage beneath clip plates 19 secured to the sides of the folly by means of bolts 20.

The large number of flat springs ar- 'ranged y.in interlocking relation and free to slide upon each other, give great resiliencyand strength to the tire and the particular manner of securing these springs to thc rim yfacilitates the assembling of the device and insures the springs against displacement under heavy load.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim is I 1. A resilient tire comprising an inner www mei/u and en Outer series of fiat spring members bent to form e tubular structure and erianged in {mii-s, :L series of spaced. intermediate Het spring members between the inner und outer series and each member hereef: arranged with its edges between the edges of adjacent pairs of members, L rivet passing hlough openings in each pair of members and through :In opening in the ntermeiace member te secure the 'three members together Wih the intermediate member flee te slide between the adjacent peil oi members, e wheel rim, und means :fei' securing the ends of said spring memheie te Said rim.

2. Pi i'esiiienc tire eemprisinga series of Het spring' members h-Lvng openings near their ends and each beni; to bring its envie ine abutting relatiox'i, a Wheel rim formed with a sent for the abutting ends of said membei-s and provided with e series of holes, ring segments arranged in pairs te engage the inner surfaces of the abutting ends 0i the members, studs on the ring segments engaging the holes in the spring members and in the rim, and means for securing the ring segments to the rim t0 clamp the ends of the spring members.

In testimony whereof affix my signatiue in presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS J. THATCHER; 1Witnesses C. R. STICKNEY, ANNA C. RAVILER. 

